John Varlas: Memphis Metro Elite under-15 squad shines at tourney

Local volleyball made a big statement at the world’s largest tournament, courtesy of the Memphis Metro Elite 151 under-15 squad.

The under-15s, coached by Jitka Okolicany, finished second in their age group at the recent Orlando Nationals. The event featured more than 1,900 teams in age groups ranging from under-10 to under-18. The Metro Elite team competed against 176 other squads in the under-15 club division.

“The 151 team is a very strong team,” said Okolicany. “They’ve been ranked nationally and they won the super regional in New Orleans to qualify for nationals. I expected big results.

“Of course, everyone wants to finish in first place but this was just such a huge accomplishment for the players, for Memphis and for the region. It just shows what hard work will bring you.”

Three players from the squad were named to the tournament’s all-star team: St. George’s middle blocker Sope Adeleye, Marion outside hitter Diane Phillips and libero Katjana Gries of Germantown. Those three, along with Tipton-Rosemark outside hitter Asante Lopez and St. Agnes setter Constance Connolly, were huge keys to success.

“Sope was a huge at the net and as a defender. She just refused to lose and was a total team player. Diane and Asante were our big weapons and they did a great job scoring and terminating.

“Katjana is the best libero out there; she really was the essence of our team. And of course the outside hitters can’t score unless someone passes them the ball and Constance did a great job putting the ball up for them. Every player contributed and did an outstanding job.”

In Tennessee, Memphis-area volleyball has often taken a back seat to teams from other parts of the state. But that’s changing — St. George’s (twice) and St. Agnes have won state titles in the last three seasons — and Okolicany said the new crop of talent represented by the under-15s is just more evidence of that growth.

“Oh absolutely,” she said. “These athletes are paving the way to be the very best.”

Baseball players honored

Three area high school baseball players — Austin Riley, Grae Kessinger and Riley Self — have been named to the Maxpreps Underclass All-American team for the 2013 season.

The 6-3, 210-pound Riley had a banner sophomore season for DeSoto Central, batting .434 with seven homers and 42 RBIs while also going 10-1 with an 0.51 ERA on the mound. He was a Commercial Appeal all-metro pick and was also named to the Mississippi Coaches Association Class 6A all-state team after leading the Jaguars to a 27-10 record and a spot in the MHSAA North Half series, where they lost to eventual state champion Southaven.

Kessinger and Self excelled as freshmen this past season. Kessinger, an infielder who is the grandson of Memphis baseball legend Don Kessinger, was a Mississippi Coaches Association Class 5A second-team pick after batting .349 with 20 RBIs and 26 runs scored for Center Hill.

Self, a 6-4, 215-pound right-hander who has committed to Mississippi State despite just finishing his ninth-grade year, went 6-0 with a 2.14 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 39¥ innings to lead Magnolia Heights in Senatobia to a 37-0 record and the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA Division 2 state championship.

Whitehaven legend dies

Jerry Coletta, an all-state performer in two sports at Whitehaven, died Friday.

Playing for legendary coach Elmer Ray, Coletta was named all-state as a tailback after leading the Tigers to an 8-3 record as a senior in 1968. During that season, he set a Shelby-Metro record that still stands, totaling 643 yards of total offense in a game against Mitchell.

He also ran track and anchored Whitehaven’s 440-yard relay team that finished second in the state. In addition, he was an outfielder on the baseball team and later owned Jerry Coletta Ltd., a men’s clothing store.